Method of preparing an article

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an article of manufacture. The method includes bringing at least a portion of a heated thermoplastic sheet into contact with at least a portion of the first surface of a support having a plurality of perforations. A vacuum is formed on the second surface of the support, and portions the heated thermoplastic sheet are drawn through the perforations of the support and to the second surface side of the support. Thermoplastic attachment heads are formed on the second surface side of the support, from the thermoplastic material of the sheet that is drawn through the perforations. The thermoplastic sheet and the support are fixedly attached one to the other by means of the edges of the perforations being embedded in the thermoplastic material of the sheet drawn therethrough, and the thermoplastic attachment heads. Also disclosed are articles of manufacture, such as interior and exterior automotive body panels and components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of preparing an article. Themethod involves bringing the second surface of a heated thermoplasticfilm into contact with the first surface of a support having a pluralityof perforations having edges. Reduced gaseous pressure is formed on theopposite second surface of the support, which serves to draw a portionof the heated thermoplastic film through at least some of theperforations. The thermoplastic material drawn through the perforationsis formed into attachment heads on the second surface side of thesupport. The edges of the perforations become embedded in thethermoplastic material of the film drawn and extending therethrough,thereby fixedly attaching the thermoplastic film to the support. Thepresent invention also relates to an article of manufacture.

Methods of preparing an article by means of vacuum forming athermoplastic sheet over a substrate are generally known. Typically athermoplastic sheet is brought into contact with a substrate, and avacuum is drawn such that the thermoplastic sheet contacts and conformsto the shape of the substrate. Optionally, the thermoplastic sheet maybe heated to improve its moldability prior to the vacuum forming step.

A disadvantage to such known vacuum forming processes is that theyinvolve additional steps by which the thermoplastic sheet is fixedlyattached to the substrate. Typically the thermoplastic sheet is fixed tothe substrate by means of adhesives, which are generally applied to thesurface of the substrate in a separate step prior to vacuum forming thethermoplastic sheet thereon. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, thethermoplastic sheet may be fixed to the substrate by means of fasteners,e.g., screws, bolts and/or rivets, in a separate step after the vacuumforming step.

Articles prepared by such vacuum forming processes can suffer fromstructural failures in which the thermoplastic sheet separates from thesubstrate. For example, in the case of internal and/or external bodypanels used in vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, cyclicalloading (e.g., due to environmental temperature fluctuations) andvibrations can result in failure of the adhesives and/or fasteners, thusresulting in the thermoplastic sheet separating from the substrate. Whenthe thermoplastic sheet is fixed to the substrate by means of fasteners,the resulting article can have degraded sealing properties relative toexternal and internal environments. The use of fasteners in effectresults in the formation of a breach of both the thermoplastic sheet andthe substrate, which can provide a pathway by which, for example, water,moisture and/or gasses may undesirably pass through from one side of thearticle to the other.

It would be desirable to develop new methods of preparing articles bymeans of vacuum forming that involve a reduced number of steps relativeto fixing the thermoplastic sheet to the substrate. In addition, itwould be desirable that such newly developed methods of manufactureresult in the formation of articles that have improved physicalproperties, such as improved resistance to structural failure andimproved sealing properties.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,542 discloses a vacuum forming method which involveslaying a sheet of thermoplastic material (heated to a formable state)over a device having a locking configuration and at least one vacuumhole in the locking configuration. By means of a vacuum, thethermoplastic sheet is drawn down onto the surface of the device. The'542 patent also discloses drawing the heated thermoplastic sheet intothe vacuum holes of the locking configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,847 discloses a process in which a sheet ofthermoplastic material heated to a formable state is placed adjacent toa fastener having an internal passage defining an air path from the baseportion to the side surface portion thereof. In the method of the '847patent, a vacuum is drawn such that the sheet partially flows into thepassage to mechanically capture the fastener within the sheet.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method ofpreparing an article comprising:

-   -   (a) providing a sheet of thermoplastic material having a first        surface and a second surface;    -   (b) providing a support having a plurality of perforations        having edges, a first surface and a second surface;    -   (c) heating said thermoplastic sheet to a temperature that is        equal to or greater than the softening point and less than the        melting point of said thermoplastic sheet;    -   (d) bringing at least a portion of the second surface of the        heated thermoplastic sheet into contact with at least a portion        of the first surface of said support;    -   (e) forming (or providing) reduced gaseous pressure on the        second surface of said support, thereby drawing portions of said        heated thermoplastic sheet through at least some of said        perforations, the edges of said perforations being embedded in        the thermoplastic material drawn therethrough;    -   (f) forming at least one thermoplastic attachment head on the        second surface side of said support, said thermoplastic        attachment head being formed from and being continuous with the        portions of said thermoplastic sheet that are drawn through said        perforations; and    -   (g) cooling the heated thermoplastic sheet below its softening        point,        wherein said thermoplastic sheet is fixedly (and irreversibly)        attached to said support by means of said attachment heads and        the edges of said perforations being embedded in the        thermoplastic material drawn therethrough.

In further accordance with the present invention, there is also providedan article of manufacture comprising:

-   -   (a) a support having a plurality of perforations having edges, a        first surface and a second surface; and    -   (b) a sheet of thermoplastic material having a first surface and        a second surface, at least a portion of the second surface of        said thermoplastic sheet being in contact with at least a        portion of the first surface of said support,        wherein said thermoplastic sheet is fixedly (and irreversibly)        attached to said support by means of a portion of said        thermoplastic sheet extending through at least some of said        perforations and being continuous with attachment heads on the        second surface side of said support, and the edges of said        perforations being embedded in the thermoplastic material        extending there through.

The features that characterize the present invention are pointed outwith particularity in the claims, which are annexed to and form a partof this disclosure. These and other features of the invention, itsoperating advantages and the specific objects obtained by its use willbe more fully understood from the following detailed description andaccompanying drawings.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as thoseexpressing structural dimensions, process conditions, etc. used in thespecification and claims are understood as modified in all instances bythe term “about.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative sectional view of an article prepared by theprocess of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a representative sectional view of an article prepared by theprocess of the present invention which further includes a secondthermoplastic sheet;

FIG. 3 is a representative sectional view of an article prepared by theprocess of the present invention in which the perforations of thesubstrate have deformed edge portions;

FIG. 4 is a representative sectional view of an article prepared by theprocess of the present invention which includes an adhesive layer and afastener as further attachment means;

FIG. 5 is a representative sectional view of an article prepared by theprocess of the present invention in which the sheet is a multilayersheet;

FIG. 6 is a representative sectional view of an article prepared by theprocess of the present invention in which the perforations of thesubstrate have deformed edge portions; and

FIG. 7 is a representative sectional view of an article prepared by theprocess of the present invention in which the thermoplastic sheet andthe support are further fixedly attached one to the other by means ofportions of the sheet wrapping around and embedding terminal edgeportions of the support.

In FIGS. 1 through 7, like reference numerals and characters designatethe same components and structural features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method of the present invention includes providing a thermoplasticsheet (a first thermoplastic sheet) fabricated from a thermoplasticmaterial, having first and second surfaces. As used herein and in theclaims, the term “thermoplastic” means a plastic material that has asoftening or melting point, and is substantially free of a threedimensional crosslinked network resulting from the formation of covalentbonds between chemically reactive groups, e.g., active hydrogen groupsand free isocyanate groups. Examples of thermoplastic materials fromwhich the thermoplastic sheet may be fabricated include, but are notlimited to thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyester,thermoplastic polyamide, thermoplastic graft copolymer (e.g.,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) graft copolymers, and ASA graftcopolymers), thermoplastic vinyl polymer (e.g., ethylene-vinyl acetate(EVA) copolymers, acrylonitrile ethylene styrene (AES) copolymers, andstyrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers), thermoplastic polyolefin (e.g.,polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-propylene copolymers),thermoplastic poly(meth)acrylate and thermoplastic polyurethane, andmixtures or thermoplastic compositions containing one or more thereof.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the thermoplastic sheetcomprises at least one thermoplastic semicrystalline polymer.Thermoplastic semicrystalline polymers from which the thermoplasticsheet may be fabricated include, but are not limited to thermoplasticsemicrystalline polyester, thermoplastic semicrystalline polyamide andmixtures or thermoplastic compositions containing one or more thereof.

As used herein and in the claims, the term “sheet” is inclusive of bothsheets and films, e.g., sheets having a thickness of greater than orequal to 30 mils (762 μm), and films having a thickness of less than 30mils (762 μm). The thermoplastic sheet may be selected from single layersheets and multilayer sheets. Multilayer sheets that may be used in themethod of the present invention may include layers fabricated from thesame or different thermoplastic polymers and/or compositions, andinclude at least two (2) layers (e.g., from 2 to 8 layers and moretypically 2, 3, 4 or 5 layers). Multilayer sheets may be made by artrecognized methods, including, for example, coextrusion and laminationmethods. An example of a multilayer sheet that may be used in thepresent invention has three (3) layers in the following sequence.

virgin polyamide|recycled polyamide|reinforced polyamide The reinforcedpolyamide layer of the multilayered sheet is typically brought intoabutment with the support in the method of the present invention.

The thermoplastic sheet typically has a thickness of at least 10 mils(254 μm), preferably at least 60 mils (1524 μm), and more preferably atleast 100 mils (2540 μm). The thermoplastic sheet typically has athickness of less than or equal to 300 mils (7620 μm), preferably lessthan or equal to 250 mils (6350 μm), and more preferably less than orequal to 200 mils (5080 μm). The thermoplastic sheet may have athickness ranging between any combination of these upper and lowervalues. For example, the thermoplastic sheet may have a thicknesstypically from 10 mils (254 μm) to 300 mils (7620 μm), preferably from60 mils (1524 μm) to 250 mils (6350 μm), and more preferably from 100mils (2540 μm) to 200 mils (5080 μm).

The thermoplastic sheet may optionally include additives, selected from,for example: light stabilizers, UV stabilizers, thermal stabilizers,antioxidants, fillers, pigments, dyes, waxes and combinations thereof.Such additives are typically present in amounts of less than 20 percentby weight, for example from 0.01 to 15 percent by weight, or 0.1 to 5 or10 percent by weight, the percent weights being based on the weight ofthe thermoplastic sheet.

The support provided in the method of the present invention has aplurality of perforations having edges. The perforations may have a widerange of sizes and shapes (e.g., round, elliptical, and polygonal, suchas square, rectangular, pentagonal and hexagonal). The perforations aresized such that a portion of the thermoplastic sheet can be drawntherethrough to form an attachment head on the second surface side ofthe support and embed the edges of the perforations therein. Forpurposes of illustration, a round perforation typically has a diameterof from 5 mm to 15 mm, preferably from 7 mm to 10 mm.

To assist in drawing the second surface of the thermoplastic sheet intoabutting contact with the first surface of the support, the support mayoptionally include a plurality of vacuum holes. The vacuum holes aretypically smaller than the perforations, and are sized to minimizedrawing of the thermoplastic sheet therein, while at the same timeallowing air to be drawn therethrough. More particularly, the optionalvacuum holes are sized such that drawing of the thermoplastic sheettherethrough is minimized and preferably prevented. The vacuum holes mayhave any configuration (e.g., round, elliptical or polygonal),preferably the vacuum holes are substantially round. For purposes ofillustration, round vacuum holes typically have a diameter of from 0.25mm to 1.0 mm, preferably from 0.38 mm to 0.76 mm. In an embodiment ofthe present invention, the support is fabricated from sintered porousaluminum.

The support may have a substantially flat and/or three-dimensionalshape. Typically, the support is a rigid support (i.e., it is more rigidthan the thermoplastic sheet when heated above its softening point, andis in effect self supporting). Materials from which the support may befabricated include, but are not limited to, metals, thermoset plasticmaterials, thermoplastic materials, and combinations thereof.

Thermoplastic materials from which the support may be fabricatedinclude, but are not limited to, thermoplastic polyurethane,thermoplastic polyurea, thermoplastic polyimide, thermoplasticpolyamide, thermoplastic polyamideimide, thermoplastic polyester,thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polysulfone, thermoplasticpolyketone, thermoplastic polyethylene, thermoplastic polypropylene,thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, thermoplasticpolyvinylchlorine and mixtures or thermoplastic compositions containingone or more thereof. Of the thermoplastic materials from which thesupport may be fabricated, thermoplastic polyamides are preferred, e.g.,DURETHAN thermoplastic polyamide, commercially available from BayerPolymers LLC.

As used herein and in the claims the term “thermoset plastic material”means plastic materials having a three dimensional crosslinked networkresulting from the formation of covalent bonds between chemicallyreactive groups, e.g., active hydrogen groups and free isocyanategroups. Thermoset plastic materials from which the support may befabricated include those known to the skilled artisan, e.g., crosslinkedpolyurethanes, crosslinked polyepoxides and crosslinked polyesters. Ofthe thermoset plastic materials, crosslinked polyurethanes arepreferred. The support may be fabricated from crosslinked polyurethanesby the art-recognized process of reaction injection molding. Reactioninjection molding typically involves, as is known to the skilledartisan, injecting separately, and preferably simultaneously, into amold: (i) an active hydrogen functional component (e.g., a polyol and/orpolyamine); and (ii) an isocyanate functional component (e.g., adiisocyanate such as toluene diisocyanate, and/or dimers and trimers ofa diisocyanate such as toluene diisocyanate). The filled mold mayoptionally be heated to ensure and/or hasten complete reaction of theinjected components. Upon complete reaction of the injected components,the mold is opened and the molded article, e.g., the support used in thepresent invention, is removed.

The thermoset plastic materials and/or thermoplastic materials fromwhich the support may be fabricated, may optionally be reinforced with amaterial selected from glass fibers, carbon fibers, boron fibers, metalflakes, polyamide fibers (e.g., KEVLAR polyamide fibers) and mixturesthereof. The reinforcing materials, and the glass fibers in particular,may have sizings on their surfaces to improve miscibility and/oradhesion to the plastics into which they are incorporated, as is knownto the skilled artisan. Glass fibers are a preferred reinforcingmaterial in the present invention. If used, the reinforcement material,e.g., glass fibers, is typically present in the thermoset plasticmaterials and/or thermoplastic materials of the support in a reinforcingamount, e.g., in an amount of from 5 percent by weight to 60 percent byweight, based on the total weight of the support.

Metals from which the support may be fabricated include, but are notlimited to, aluminum and steel. In a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the support is fabricated from metal, e.g., steel.

In the method of the present invention, the thermoplastic sheet isheated to a temperature that is above the softening point, but less thanthe melting point of the sheet. More particularly, the thermoplasticsheet is heated to temperature at which it is formable and/or malleable.Generally, the thermoplastic sheet is heated to a temperature that isequal to or greater than its glass transition temperature (Tg). Forpurposes of illustration, when the thermoplastic sheet comprises athermoplastic semicrystalline polyamide, the temperature to which thethermoplastic sheet is heated is typically from 230° C. to 250° C., andmore typically from 235° C. to 245° C. The thermoplastic sheet may beheated by means of: convection (e.g., in a convection oven); contactwith a heated surface, such as a heated roll; infrared heating (e.g., bymeans of quartz infrared heaters); and a combination of such heatingmethods.

At least a portion of the second surface of the heated thermoplasticsheet (i.e., the surface of the sheet that faces the first surface ofthe support) is then brought into contact with at least a portion of thefirst surface of the support. This can be achieved by art recognizedmeans, that include for example holding terminal portions of heatedthermoplastic sheet within clamps and: (i) bringing the sheet down ontothe support; and/or (ii) bringing the support up into the sheet. Theheated thermoplastic sheet and the support are typically brought intocontact with each other within a vacuum mold.

With at least a portion of the second surface of the heatedthermoplastic sheet in contact with at least a portion of the firstsurface of the support, reduced gaseous pressure is formed on the secondsurface side of the support. The reduced gaseous pressure serves to drawportions of the heated thermoplastic sheet through at least some of theperforations of the support. The edges of the perforations are embeddedin the thermoplastic material drawn therethrough. As used herein and inthe claims the term “embedded” and similar terms with regard to theedges of the perforations means that the perforation edges aresubstantially and irreversibly encased in the thermoplastic materialextending therethrough.

At least one thermoplastic attachment head is formed on the secondsurface side of the support. The attachment head is formed from and iscontinuous with the thermoplastic material of the sheet that is drawnthrough the perforations. The thermoplastic material drawn through theperforations may be allowed to expand or mushroom out over a portion ofthe second surface of the support, thus forming the attachment heads.More typically, the thermoplastic material drawn through theperforations onto the second surface side of the support comes intocontact with interior portions of the vacuum mold, which may be forexample concave or flat, and which serve to shape the attachment head.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the attachment heads areformed by means of a reversibly retractable opposing mold member (e.g.,a reversibly retractable core pin) being brought into contact with thethermoplastic material drawn through the perforations onto the secondsurface side of the support. With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, areversibly retractable core pin 32 is shown as it is pulled away fromthe second surface 23 of support 20. Retractable core pin 32 has anattachment head shaping surface 35 that when brought into contact withthe thermoplastic material of sheet 11 (that is drawn throughperforation 47 of support 20), shapes and forms thermoplastic attachmenthead 29. More particularly, the shaping surface 35 of core pin 32provides attachment head 29 with a shaped surface 38. Attachment head 29is continuous with the thermoplastic material of sheet 11 that is drawnthrough perforation 47.

After formation of the attachment heads, the heated thermoplastic sheetis cooled below its softening point. With further reference to FIG. 1,the combination of: (i) the edges 44 of perforation 47 being embedded inthe thermoplastic material of sheet 11 drawn therethrough; and (ii)attachment head 29 being continuous with the thermoplastic material ofsheet 11, together serve to fixedly (and irreversibly) attach sheet 11and support 20 one to the other. After cooling, first surface 14 ofsheet 11, surface 38 of attachment head 29, and/or second surface 23 ofsupport 20 may optionally be further processed, e.g., ground and/orbuffed.

In an embodiment of the present invention at least a portion of thesecond surface of a second thermoplastic sheet is adhered to at least aportion of the first surface of the first thermoplastic sheet (i.e., thesheet that is first brought into contact with the first surface of thesupport and drawn through the perforations thereof). The secondthermoplastic sheet may be fabricated from thermoplastic polymers asdescribed previously herein with regard to the first thermoplasticsheet, including thermoplastic semicrystalline polymers.

The second thermoplastic sheet may be a single layer or multilayersheet, as described previously herein with regard to the firstthermoplastic sheet. In addition, the second thermoplastic sheet ismeant to be inclusive of both sheets (e.g., having thicknesses of atleast 30 mils (762 μm)), and films (e.g., having thicknesses of lessthan 30 mils (762 μm)). The second thermoplastic sheet may have athickness selected from those values as recited previously herein withregard to the first thermoplastic sheet.

The second thermoplastic sheet may be adhered to the first thermoplasticsheet at any point during the process of the present invention, orthereafter. In an embodiment of the present invention the secondthermoplastic sheet is adhered to the first thermoplastic sheet afterstep (e), for example between steps (e) and (f) or between steps (f) and(g).

The second thermoplastic sheet may be used for purposes of providing thearticle with a cosmetic surface and/or improved structural stability.Typically, when portions of the first thermoplastic sheet are drawnthrough the perforations of the support, a small dimple or depressionmay be left in the first surface of the first thermoplastic sheet (e.g.,dimple 41 in FIGS. 1 and 2). The dimple or depression is usually alignedwith the perforation. The application of a second thermoplastic sheetover the first surface of the first sheet serves to cover the dimples inthe first sheet.

The second thermoplastic sheet may be adhered to the first sheet bymeans of adhesives, fasteners, heat fusion and combinations thereof. Inan embodiment of the present invention, the second thermoplastic sheetis heated to a temperature that is equal to or greater than thesoftening point (e.g., at or above the Tg of the second sheet) and lessthan the melting point of the second sheet. At least a portion of thesecond surface of the heated second sheet is then brought into contactwith at least a portion of the first surface of the first sheet.Preferably, the first sheet is also heated to a temperature greater thanor equal to its softening point when the second sheet is brought intocontact therewith. The two sheets in such contact are thus fused one tothe other. Optionally, pressure may be applied (e.g., by means of aroller, such as a heated roller) to the first surface of the secondsheet and/or to the second surface of the support to assist in fusingthe two sheets together. The application of such pressure can also serveto press thermoplastic material of the second sheet into the dimples inthe first surface of the first sheet.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first thermoplastic sheetmay be further fixedly attached to the support by attachment meansselected from fasteners, adhesives and combinations thereof. Adhesivesthat may be used include those known to the skilled artisan, such aspolyurethane adhesives and epoxy based adhesives. Art recognized heatactivated adhesives may also be used. If an adhesive is used, it istypically applied to at least a portion of the first surface of thesupport (e.g., by means of a doctor blade) prior to bringing thethermoplastic sheet into contact with the support. Fasteners that may beused include, for example, self tapping screws, nuts and bolts, andrivets.

The perforations of the support may have deformed edge portions, in anembodiment of the present invention. The deformed edge portions of theperforations are embedded in the thermoplastic material of the sheetdrawn or extending therethrough. Deformed edge portions can be formed byknow methods, which include for example, bending and/or crimping theedges of the perforations. Deformed edge portions may be employed forpurposes of improving the fixed attachment of the first sheet to thesupport, because the deformed edge portions may be more firmly embeddedin the thermoplastic material of the first sheet extending through theperforation.

The present invention is also directed to an article of manufacture.With reference to the drawing figures, a sectional view of an article ofmanufacture 2 according to the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1.The compositions, dimensions and methods of fabrication of the variouselements of the articles of manufacture depicted in the drawing figures,are as described previously herein with regard to the method of thepresent invention.

Article 2 of FIG. 1 includes a support 20 having a first surface 26 anda second surface 23, and a plurality of perforations 47 having edges 44.Article 2 also includes a thermoplastic sheet 11 having a first surface14 and a second surface 17. At least a portion of second surface 17 ofsheet 11 is in abutting contact with at least a portion of first surface26 of support 11. A portion of sheet 11 extends through perforation 47,and is continuous with attachment head 29 (having an exterior surface38) on the second surface side 23 of support 11. Edges 44 of perforation47 are embedded in the thermoplastic material extending throughperforation 47. Sheet 11 and support 20 are fixedly attached one to theother by means of: (i) edges 44 of perforation 47 being embedded in thethermoplastic material of sheet 11 extending therethrough; and (ii)attachment head 29 on second surface side 23 of support 20 beingcontinuous with the thermoplastic material extending through perforation47.

First surface 14 of sheet 11 of article 2 also includes a dimple ordepression 41 that is substantially aligned with perforation 47. Asdiscussed previously herein, dimple 41 is formed as the result of aportion of sheet 11 being drawn through perforation 47 to formattachment head 29. Dimple 41 may optionally be filled in with a fillermaterial, e.g., additional thermoplastic material, (not shown), or, ifit is not too deep, smoothed out by means of a heated iron or roller(e.g., having a textured surface) being pressed there-against.Alternatively, dimple 41 may be covered up by means of superposing asecond thermoplastic sheet over first sheet 11.

A further embodiment of an article of manufacture 4 according to thepresent invention, that includes a second thermoplastic sheet 50, isdepicted in FIG. 2. Second thermoplastic sheet 50 has a first surface 53and a second surface 56. Second surface 56 of second sheet 50 abuts andis adhered to first surface 14 of first sheet 11. As discussedpreviously herein, second sheet 50 may be adhered to first sheet 11 bymeans of adhesives, fasteners, heat fusion, and combinations thereof.With the application of pressure and heat to first surface 53 of secondsheet 50, dimple 41 can be at least partially filled with thethermoplastic material of second sheet 50. Alternatively, dimple 41 maybe filled with filler material (e.g., additional thermoplastic materialand/or adhesive) prior to adhering second sheet 50 to first sheet 11.

An article of manufacture 6 according to the present invention thatincludes deformed edge portions is depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings.Support 20 has a perforation 62, which is defined by deformed edgeportions 56. Deformed edge portions 56 are beveled or chamfered, and areembedded in the thermoplastic material of sheet 11 that extends throughperforation 62. The thermoplastic material extending through perforation62 forms attachment head 59, which is on the second surface side ofsupport 20, and is substantially flush with second surface 23 of support20. Sheet 11 and support 20 are fixedly attached together by means ofdeformed edge portions 56 being embedded in the thermoplastic materialof sheet 11 extending through perforation 62, and by means of attachmenthead 59.

A further article of manufacture 3 according to the present inventionwhich includes deformed edge portions is depicted in FIG. 6 of thedrawings. Support 20 has a perforation 89, which is defined by deformededge portions 86. Deformed edge portions 86 extend out from secondsurface 23 of support 20, and may be formed, for example, by means ofthe art recognized method of mechanically punching perforations throughfirst surface 26 through to second surface 23 of support 20. Thethermoplastic material extending through perforation 89 embeds deformededge portions 86 therein, and forms attachment head 29, which is on thesecond surface side of support 20. Sheet 11 and support 20 are fixedlyattached together one to the other by means of deformed edge portions 86being embedded in the thermoplastic material of sheet 11 extendingthrough perforation 89, and by means of attachment head 29.

In addition to the combination of the thermoplastic embedded perforationedges and thermoplastic attachment heads, the sheet and support may befurther fixedly attached to each other by attachment means selected fromadhesives and/or fasteners, as discussed previously herein. Article ofmanufacture 7 of FIG. 4 includes a fastener 65 which is screwed throughfirst surface 14 of sheet 11, and extends through adhesive layer 68 andinto support 20. Adhesive layer 68 of article 7 is abutingly interposedbetween second surface 17 of sheet 11 and first surface 26 of support20. Adhesive layer 68 may be selected from art recognized adhesives, asdiscussed previously herein.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the thermoplastic sheet andthe support may (in addition to the combination of the thermoplasticembedded perforation edges and thermoplastic attachment heads, andoptional adhesives and/or fasteners) be further fixedly and irreversiblyattached one to the other by means of portions of the thermoplasticsheet wrapping around and embedding at least a portion of the terminaledges of the support therein. As used herein and in the claims, the term“terminal edges” with regard to the support refers to those edges of thesupport that do not define perforations, and are located at the terminalportions of the support. With reference to FIG. 7, a portion of anarticle of manufacture 1 according to the present invention is depictedwhich includes a wrap-around attachment means (or element) 95. Support20 has a terminal edge portion 92, which is embedded in thethermoplastic material of sheet 20 that is wrapped there-around. Secondsurface 17 of sheet 11 abuts first surface 26 of support 20, wrapsaround terminal edge portion 95 and abuts a portion of second surface 23of support 20. Terminal edge portions 92 of sheet 20 may be as depictedin FIG. 7 (e.g., substantially non-deformed), or they may optionally bedeformed (e.g., bent, crimped and/or chamfered/beveled) (not shown).

Wrap-around attachment element 95 may be formed prior to, concurrentlywith or subsequent to drawing portions of sheet 11 through theperforations in support 20 (e.g., perforations 47, 62 and/or 89).Wrap-around attachment element 95 may be formed by art-recognizedmolding methods. In one embodiment, excess sheet 11 extends beyondterminal edge portion 92, and is wrapped around terminal edge portion 92by means of a separate mold member (not shown) and held in place untilcooled below the softening point of sheet 11.

Article of manufacture 9 depicted in FIG. 5 includes a first multilayersheet 71 having two layers 74 and 77. Layer 74 is superposed over layer77, and both layers together extend through perforation 47 to formattachment head 29. In addition, edges 44 of perforation 47 are embeddedin the thermoplastic material of first multilayer sheet 71 extendingtherethrough. First surface 83 of first multilayer sheet 71 has a dimple41 therein that is substantially aligned with perforation 47. At least aportion of second surface 80 of first multilayer sheet 71 abuts at leasta portion of first surface 26 of support 20.

Articles of manufacture according to and that may be prepared inaccordance with the process of the present invention include, but arenot limited to: interior and exterior automotive body panels andcomponents (e.g., the dash board and components thereof); interior andexterior aircraft body panels and components (e.g., cockpit instrumentdisplays and components thereof); interior and exterior architecturalbuilding panels; office divider panels, such as those used in theconstruction of cubicles; and panels used in the construction of trucktrailers and recreational vehicles.

The present invention has been described with reference to specificdetails of particular embodiments thereof. It is not intended that suchdetails be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the inventionexcept insofar as and to the extent that they are include in theaccompanying claims.

1. A method of preparing an article comprising: (a) providing athermoplastic sheet having a first surface and a second surface; (b)providing a support having a plurality of perforations having edges, afirst surface and a second surface; (c) heating said thermoplastic sheetto a temperature that is at least equal to the softening point and lessthan the melting point of said thermoplastic sheet; (d) bringing atleast a portion of the second surface of the heated thermoplastic sheetinto contact with at least a portion of the first surface of saidsupport; (e) forming reduced gaseous pressure on the second surface ofsaid support, thereby drawing portions of said heated thermoplasticsheet through at least some of said perforations, the edges of saidperforations being embedded in the thermoplastic material drawntherethrough; (f) forming at least one thermoplastic attachment head onthe second surface side of said support, said thermoplastic attachmenthead being formed from and being continuous with the portions of saidthermoplastic sheet that are drawn through said perforations; and (g)cooling the heated thermoplastic sheet below its softening point,wherein said thermoplastic sheet is fixedly attached to said support bymeans of said attachment heads and the edges of said perforations beingembedded in the thermoplastic material drawn therethrough.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein said support is fabricated from a material selectedfrom the group consisting of metal, thermoset plastic material,thermoplastic material and combinations thereof.
 3. The method of claim1 wherein said thermoplastic sheet is selected from single layerthermoplastic sheets and multilayer thermoplastic sheets.
 4. The methodof claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic sheet comprises at least onematerial selected from thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplasticpolyester, thermoplastic polyamide, thermoplastic graft copolymer,thermoplastic vinyl polymer, thermoplastic polyolefin, thermoplasticpoly(meth)acrylate and thermoplastic polyurethane.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said thermoplastic sheet comprises at least onethermoplastic semicrystalline polymer.
 6. The method of claim 5 whereinsaid thermoplastic semicrystalline polymer is selected fromthermoplastic semicrystalline polyester, thermoplastic semicrystallinepolyamide and combinations thereof. 7-9. (canceled)
 10. The process ofclaim 1 wherein said thermoplastic sheet is further fixedly attached tosaid support by attachment means selected from fasteners, adhesives andcombinations thereof.
 11. The process of claim 1 wherein saidperforations have deformed edge portions, and said deformed edgeportions are embedded in the thermoplastic material drawn therethrough.12-22. (canceled)